Addendum (PDF) — Food Truck Ad Hoc Committee, September 22, 2025

CITY OF EL PASO DE ROBLES
" The Pass of the Oaks"
Agenda

Food Truck Ad Hoc Committee
Addendum

Monday, September 22, 2025, 6:00 PM
Council Chamber - Library/Conference Center
1000 Spring Street
Paso Robles, CA 93446
This is an in-person meeting. Written public comments can be submitted via email to [email protected].

Those received prior to 12:00 noon on the day of the meeting to be posted to the City’s website as an addendum to the agenda. If submitting written comments in advance of the meeting, please note the agenda item by number or name.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
Any individual, who because of a disability needs special assistance to attend or participate in this meeting, may request assistance by contacting the City Clerk’s Office (805) 237-3960. Whenever possible, requests should be made four (4) working days in advance of the meeting.

Pages
C. DISCUSSION ITEM
*1. Food Truck Regulation Review – City Council Ad Hoc Committee 3 Recommended:

Conduct a public listening session, primarily focused on gather as much public comment and input possible.

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Ad Hoc Committee Report
From: Piper Smith, Assistant Planner
Subject: Food Truck Regulation Review – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Date: September 22, 2025
Facts

1. On October 1, 2024, City Council approved a variety of updates to the Paso Robles Zoning Code, Title 21 of the Paso Robles Municipal Code, including updates to Section 21.69.120, “Food Trucks and Food Truck Courts” (Attachment 1). This section of the Municipal Code establishes the permit requirements and operational standards for food trucks operating within the City limits.

2. All food trucks operating within the City limits are required to: comply with the operational requirements of Section 21.69.120; have a valid City business license; and have an active County of San Luis Obispo Environmental Health Permit.

3. In addition to the above requirements, food trucks operating at one location for more than seven days in a calendar year, but less than one year, are required to obtain a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) and must meet the findings provided in Section 21.20.070 “Findings for Approval and Revocation” (Attachment 2).

4. On May 6, 2025, Councilmember Gregory requested a discussion regarding food truck regulations return to the City Council.

5. Over the past several months, Community Development staff have been working with Community Services Officers, the Wastewater Pretreatment Coordinator, and the Finance Department to analyze the existing food truck requirements and permitting process and initiate a discussion with City Council to determine the most effective path forward for regulating food truck operations with City limits.

6. On August 5, 2025, City Council hosted a ‘Legislative Update and Review Regarding Food Truck Regulations’. Staff presented the current permitting process as well as some of the challenges in enforcing the food truck standards and permitting requirements due to its ambiguity and vagueness.

Members of the public were invited to participate in the discission and provided considerable feedback.

7. The City Council voted to establish an Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council to be comprised of Councilmember Gregory and Councilmember Bausch to address food truck regulations and report back to City Council within 6 months with recommendations for future action based on the discussion.

Community Outreach
The following list details the outreach effort that has been taken to notice the first Food Truck Regulation Review Ad Hoc Committee Meeting with the public and significant stakeholders.

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 Social Media Posts (Nextdoor, Facebook, & Instagram)
 City Press Release
 Mail notification to Downtown Main Street Association, Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, Temporary Use Permit holders (active, pending, and expired), and Mobile Food Truck/Vendor Business Licenses holders (active, pending, and expired)  “Food Truck Ad Hoc” online mailing list subscribers as of September 16, 2025  Spanish translator will be provided at the Ad Hoc meeting Background
Section 21.69.120 of the Paso Robles Zoning Code outlines the permitting requirements and operational standards for food trucks within City limits. In February 2025, the Community Development Department was made aware of an increasing number of food trucks operating out of compliance. During this time, Community Services Officers experienced a significant increase in calls for service, with 36 mobile vendorrelated complaints received in the past three months. Additionally, local officials received concerns from various stakeholders regarding the concentration of food trucks in the downtown and along major corridors such as Spring Street, Creston Road, and Niblick Road.

Food truck operators have also voiced concern about the limited communication regarding the update to the food truck guidelines included in the adoption of the 2024 Zoning Code, a lack of eligible sites that meet all operational requirements, and the need to continue to conduct business during the permit review process. Conversely, local restaurants have expressed concerns about food trucks undercutting their business with lower overhead costs.

In response, the Planning Division has coordinated with Community Services Officers, the Finance Division, the Wastewater Division, and the County of San Luis Obispo Environmental Health Department to evaluate and strengthen the food truck permitting process. Departmental priorities include improving interdepartmental communication, accessible record keeping, and clear guidelines.

Ad Hoc Meeting Process
The purpose of the Ad Hoc Committee is to facilitate a more focused review and gather additional public input on food truck regulations and report back to City Council within 6 months. This approach would allow for more in-depth dialogue while maintaining public engagement throughout the process. Any recommendations developed by the committee would be brought back to the full City Council for formal discussion and potential action at a future meeting. No changes to the existing regulations will be made during the ad hoc committee meetings.

The first Ad Hoc Committee Meeting will be a listening session, primarily focused on gather as much public comment and input possible. Subsequent meetings with focus on the effectiveness of current regulations and possible areas of refinement.

Recommendation
Conduct a public listening session, primarily focused on gather as much public comment and input possible.

Attachments

1. Current Paso Robles Municipal Code Chapter 21.69.120, “Food Trucks and Food Truck Courts”

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2. Current Paso Robles Municipal Code – Zoning Code Chapter 21.20, “Temporary Use Permits”

3. Updated City of Paso Robles Food Truck Handout

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What is NOT allowed? What is allowed?
Type of Temporary
Food Truck
Permit Requirement(s)
Food truck lasting less than
7 days
Business License
SLO County Health Permit
Food trucks lasting more
than 7 days, but less than 1
year
Business License
SLO County Health Permit
Temporary Use Permit (specific to a singe
site and for a maximum of 1 year)
Food Trucks operating for
more than 1 year
Business License
SLO County Health Permit
Site Plan Review (specific to a single site)
Two or more food trucks
operating at the same
location
Business License
SLO County Health Permit
Conditional Use Permit (specific to a
single site
What permits and approvals do I need?

FOOD TRUCK

QUESTIONS
In a commercial zoning district,
and
On private property, and
On a site with an existing
permanent business
Vending food from a licensed
food truck vehicle
Food trucks on otherwise vacant
property or dirt lots
Food trucks in City parks without
permission from the Recreation
Department
Food trucks parked on the street for
longer than 15 minutes
Erecting canopies, tarps, and similar
shade structures
Tables and chairs
Providing heaters
Sale of non-food items
Blocking driveways
Attachment 3

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¿Qué NO está permitido? ¿Qué está permitido?

PREGUNTAS SOBRE

LOS CAMIONES DE
COMIDA
¿Qué permisos y aprobaciones necesito?
Tipo de camión de
comida temporal
Requisito(s) de permiso
Camione de comida por
menos de 7 días
Licencia comercial
Permiso de salud del condado de SLO
Camione de comida por más
de 7 días, pero menos de 1
año
Licencia comercial
Permiso de salud del condado de SLO
Permiso de uso temporal (específico para un solo sitio y por un máximo de 1 año)
Camione de comida que
operan por más de 1 año
Licencia comercial
Permiso de salud del condado de SLO
Revisión del plan del sitio (específico para un solo sitio) Dos o más camione de
comida operando en la
misma ubicación
Licencia comercial
Permiso de salud del condado de SLO
Permiso de uso condicional (específico para un solo
sitio)
Camiones de comida en propiedades
que de otro modo estarían vacías o en
lotes de tierra.

Camiones de comida en parques de la
ciudad sin permiso del Departamento
de Recreación
Camiones de comida estacionados en
la calle durante más de 15 minutos
Montaje de marquesinas, lonas y
estructuras de sombra similares.

Mesas y sillas
Proporcionar calentadores
Venta de artículos no alimentarios.

Bloquear entradas
En un distrito de zonificación
comercial, y
En propiedad privada y
En un sitio con un negocio
permanente existente
Venta de comida desde un
vehículo de camión de
comida autorizado
Attachment 3

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Ivet Silva
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Formal Complaint: Food Truck Operations
I am filing a complaint about a local food truck business due to repeated safety, sanitation, and neighborhood issues:
• Crowds & Cleanliness: Large crowds frequently disregard nearby homes, and no measures are taken to control guest behavior. There are repeated incidents of public urination and broken glass left on sidewalks.
• Child Safety: The operators bring a child to work but are often inattentive because they are busy taking orders, leaving the child unsupervised.
• Fire Safety: A recent fire involved my son, an off-duty firefighter, who had to remove a propane tank to prevent an explosion. An employee attempted to put out a grease fire with water, showing a lack of fire safety knowledge.
• Noise Disturbance: The business routinely uses a leaf blower and impact drill around 1:30 AM, disturbing the neighborhood.
• Schedule: The food truck operates three days per week, repeatedly exposing the community to these risks.

This behavior shows negligence, unsafe practices, and disregard for community well-being. I request an immediate investigation and corrective action.

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Food Truck Ad Hoc CommitteeSeptember 22, 2025

Food Truck Ad Hoc Committee
September 22, 2025